Remembering Mets History (1999) Edgardo Alfonzo's Record Setting Night

Monday August 30th, 1999: Bobby Valentine's New York Mets (80-52) were 2.5 games behind the first place Atlanta Braves, at this point. But the Mets had the second-best record in the NL & were leading the wild card race by three games.

On this road trip, the Mets had lost two of three in Arizona, whom they would end up facing in that year's NLDS. Tonight, was the start of a three-game set in Houston, facing Larry Dierker's first place Astros (78-54). 

The Astros had a half game lead over the Cincinnati Reds who were behind the Mets in the Wild Card race.  Tonight, the Mets sent Masato Yoshii (8-8) to the mound to face Shane Reynolds (14-10).

At this point in the season, all these games were important down the stretch. On this night, Edgardo Alfonzo would set or tie six different Mets club records.  In a career night, Edgardo Alfonzo went 6-6 with three HRs, a double, four extra base hits & five RBIs.

In the top of the 1st inning, Alfonzo started out with a solo HR off Shane Reynolds, his 23rd HR of the season. 

In the 2nd inning, the Mets sent nine men to the plate. Darryl Hamilton led off with a HR. Roger Cedeno got aboard & stole second. Rickey Henderson singled him in. Edgardo Alfonso collected his second hit with a base hit to right.

John Olerud doubled & then Mike Piazza cleared the bases a two run HR his 32nd of the year. The Mets scored six runs in the inning, with six hits, to make it a 7-0 lead. 

In the 4th inning, with one out Rickey
Henderson singled off new pitcher Brian Williams. Alfonzo then connected for his second HR of the night; his third hit & two more runs batted in to give the Mets a 9-0 lead. 

In the 5th inning, the Mets led off with two more hits, then Rey Ordonez singled, scoring Robin Ventura to make it 10-0 Mets. 

In the 6th, Alfonzo led off the inning with a HR off the latest Houston pitcher, Sean Bergman. The solo shot was his Alfonso's third of the game & his 23rd of the season.  The Mets had an 11-0 commanding lead.

In the 8th, Alfonso led off with a base hit. John Olerud then walked Shawon Dunston & Darryl Hamilton both added RBI hits making it 14-1. 

In the 9th inning, Todd Pratt & Benny Agbayani both singled.

Alfonzo completed his big night, as he doubled to left field, bringing in Pratt with another run. It was his sixth hit of the night & his fifth RBI.

Dunston added another RBI hit as the Mets won the game 17-1. The 17 runs were a season high,

 with a season high 17 runs, winning 17-1. They also had 21 hits on the night.

With the six hits, Edgardo Alfonzo raised his batting average to .319. 

He would bat .304 on the
year, leading the team in hits (191) doubles (41) & runs scored (123). He hit 27 HRs with 108 RBIs.

Trivia: Alfonso set a Mets record with six hits & six runs scored on the evening. He became one of 13 Mets up to that point in team history to hit three or more HRs in a game. That night he also set a Mets single season record for most HRs by a Mets second baseman (23).